April has landed, and if the bar world wasn’t already moving at full tilt, consider this the point where things really start to hum.
At Australian Bartender HQ, it’s all systems go. The Australian Bar Awards are officially in motion, Sydney Bar Week is creeping closer, and nominations are already stacking up. This year comes with a twist – entrants are being asked to actually say why someone or somewhere deserves the nod. You’ve got until 15 May to lock it in, and with the awards hitting their 25-year mark, expect things to get a little louder than usual.
Inside the issue, the pages move the way a good night out should – starting strong and only building from there. We kick off with The Rail (p7) with The Born Lucky cocktail from Marble Bar, before heading into Headlines (p8) and Opens, where the country’s bar scene continues to prove it doesn’t believe in slowing down.
From there, it’s into The Long Pour (p22), where Brad Wright makes his return – this time flying the flag for rum. His feature tracks the category’s shift from well-worn commodity to something far more considered, as Australian drinkers (and bartenders) start giving it the attention it’s been quietly demanding.
Whisky gets its moment too on page 28, with Marcus Motteram unpacking his own slow-burn relationship with the spirit – from resistance to appreciation, and everything in between. If you’ve ever felt like whisky just wasn’t for you (yet), this one might change your mind.
There’s no shortage of personalities either. Over in the profiles, Aman Karma steps into the spotlight at The Marble Bar (p32), while this year’s Host of the Year, Dylan Howarth of Fortunate Son, sits down to talk about the work behind the recognition on page 38. On page 40, Rebecca Lines of Odd Culture Group proves that once you’re in this industry, getting out isn’t really on the cards.
Further afield, the postcard lands in Paris on page 43, where Aurélie Panhelleux checks in from CopperBay with a glimpse into life behind the bar on the Champs-Élysées. Closer to home, Claudio Bedini returns with Bitter Tales (p46), while Nicole Buisson breaks down the numbers and nuances shaping the Business of Bars (p48).
Elsewhere, there’s plenty to get across – Three Ways takes on the Disoranno (p34), The Classic revisits the Manhattan (p37), and #BTStaffies (p50) plus The Bar Exam round things out.
In short, April’s issue doesn’t mess around. It’s packed, it’s moving, and it’s a pretty accurate reflection of the industry right now – busy, evolving, and not waiting for anyone to catch up.